Herbs and spices are widely considered as Nature's gifts for improving our health. Obtained from plants in their countless forms, herbs and spices alike have been used since the earliest of times for their health benefits and as health supplements. Herbs and spices have been used for curing countless illnesses, healing wounds, and fending off disease. That these natural wonder-drugs are beneficial health and healing benefits is unquestionable. In fact, herbs have a significant advantage and health benefit for treating some illnesses when other, more chemical remedies have failed.
There are far too many herbs and spices used for their health benefits today that can be detailed here. They come in many forms, but mostly from plants. Some are exotic and rare, while others are commonplace and can found almost anywhere in the world. While one herb may be successful for treating a particular malaise in a particular part of the world, the same malaise may be successfully treated with another, entirely different herb in a distant land. The herbs and spices of Africa, North America, and the Amazon Rain Forest have been relied upon for healing indigenous people for countless generations; different locations and different herbs frequently yield the same curative effect.
Healing herbal concoctions are frequently prepared in form of teas, infusions, poultices, oils, tonics and tinctures, although some may be chewed or eaten. Some herbs, such as basil, rosemary, parsley and marjoram, are so familiar to us that we take them for granted as seasonings intended for preparing savory dinners. Aleovera, a common houseplant is useful for treating burns and rashes. Many of these natural healers can be grown in small herb gardens or even on the kitchen counter. Freshly prepared herbs are regarded as being more potent than dried herbs and are preferred when preparing a dose of healing tea. Besides being used for the occasional illness, these herbs are rich in antioxidants and always good for boosting ones immune system and alleviating gastronomical disturbances, such as excessive gas.
Some uses for herbs include fighting high blood pressure, reducing cholesterol in the arteries, flushing out the digestive tract, inducing a mild state of relaxation, flushing out the sinuses, relieving headache, relieving menstrual cramps, fighting infection and many more other reasons. Others are used for fighting migraine headaches, fighting off the common cold and reducing a fever. Prior to the discovery of modern wonder-drugs, such as penicillin, herbs and spices were the only front line defense against the terrible plagues that ravaged the world throughout history.
The number of illness treated by nature's herbs and spices is probably numberless. But along with the good, there were also not-so-good uses, such as of the multitude of snake-oil medicines, or concoctions, sold by unscrupulous shysters, not so long ago. More often than not, however, these alleged cures relied more upon the amount of alcohol and gullibility of the patient than scientific proof of effectiveness. In some cases, the cure was likely to be more dangerous than the disease, as some plants contain naturally occurring toxins and cancer causing chemicals. Other concoctions, combination of herbs, alcohol, and poisonous heavy metals are now know to be quite lethal.
Spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, thyme, and rosemary are commonly used for intestinal tract problems which can be the result of yeast (Candida) that occurs naturally in everyone. Ginger is especially useful for reducing motion sickness and cinnamon is a favorite addition to breakfast cereals and deserts. The flavor and taste sensation that these two spices add to any prepared dish makes them a favorite for cooks and chefs, as well.
A look in the kitchen spice rack will show that the spices we take for granted as flavor boosting recipe ingredients have been historically used for curing various ailments.
Overall, however, the health benefits of herbs and spices are far more favorable than unfavorable when combined with a good dose of common sense and care. Recent research as shown that there is a positive effect among Alzheimer's patients when exposed to fragrant herbs as they seem to trigger memory. Working in the backyard garden may be ideal for such patients if the garden includes a wide variety of plants such as lavender, chamomile, and rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Another health benefit of herbs and spices stems from their uses for both beauty and first aid purposes. Echinacea, for example is a wonderful and beautiful plant that attracts butterflies during the summer, while its leaves are useful for relieving the itch and sting of insect bites. Echinacea is also a great natural medicine for relieving winter time sniffles, sneezing and an irritable sore throat. Its leaves make a strong tea which works wonders, although it should be used, as with any natural medicine, with a healthy dose of common sense.
Another example is cinnamon, which contains fragrant oil that is both a flavor enhancer as well as an astringent, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, which explains its use in toothpaste and chewing gum. Likewise, cloves are familiar for their sweet-biting taste and cleansing properties. Clove oil and cinnamon oil can be combined in an alcohol tincture to produce fragrant cologne that endures for days. In some cultures today, cloves are even believed by some to protect against evil spirits.
Mustard is an example of using a spice for food, medicinal and beauty purposes. Mustard has been used for centuries by Romans and Greeks as a seasoning for their food, as well as for bathing. It is also quite effective when applied to bee stings and insect bites to reduce swelling, infection and inflammation.
There are hundreds, if not thousands of books and articles that discuss the health benefits of herbs and spices on the marketplace and the Internet these days. If you are seriously considering finding the perfect cure for a particular malaise, I recommend that you devote some time to research and study. Always be wary of any combination of herbs and alcohol, as these two ingredients can make good bedfellows, but at the expense of your good health in unintended ways.